{"id":7578,"date":"2021-07-26T15:20:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T07:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/?p=7578"},"modified":"2021-07-26T15:22:34","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T07:22:34","slug":"1-1-billion-support-package-for-businesses-during-phase-2-heightened-alert-what-you-can-expect","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dollarsandsense.sg\/business\/1-1-billion-support-package-for-businesses-during-phase-2-heightened-alert-what-you-can-expect\/","title":{"rendered":"$1.1 Billion Support Package For Businesses During Phase 2 (Heightened Alert): What You Can Expect"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 23 July 2021, the government announced a supplementary $1.1 billion support package for businesses to tide through Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) \u201cpart 3\u201d. This tightened measure will last from 22 July to 18 August 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a timely announcement given the recent start-stop nature of Singapore\u2019s re-opening since May 2021. Coupled with the fact that government support has been significantly lower than in 2020, the haphazard nature of easing and tightening measures introduced and just no end in sight to COVID-19, many more businesses have been throwing in the towel in 2021. In a recent article we wrote, we found that despite overcoming the worst of COVID-19 more businesses are closing down this year compared to 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: Why Circuit Breaker In 2020 May Not Have Killed Businesses \u2013 But Uncertainties From Easing And Tightening Measures In 2021 Just Might<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s some respite now, with new and extended schemes provided to businesses and individuals. Here\u2019s a summary of the schemes provided under this latest support package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1 Enhanced Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) Payouts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) has been the default support package the government has been extending as and when it decides to tighten safe management measures. So, it comes as no surprise to see the JSS being enhanced once again. This will be up to 31 August 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most affected businesses such as food & beverage (F&B) businesses, gyms, fitness studios, performing arts organisations and arts education centres will be enhanced to 60% until 18 August 2021. Other significantly affected businesses will also receive 40% JSS payouts until 18 August 2021 \u2013 these include the retail sector, affected personal care services, tourist attractions, licensed hotels, cruise and regional ferry operators, MICE organisers, travel agents, museums, art galleries, cinema operators and other family entertainment centres. This will then taper to 10% from 19 August to 31 August 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sectors with JSS Enhancements<\/strong><\/td>16 May to 11 July 2021<\/strong><\/td>12 July to 21 July 2021<\/strong><\/td>[NEW] 22 July to 18 August 2021 <\/strong><\/td>[NEW] 19 August to 31 August 2021<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Closed sectors or sectors with tightened safe management measures
– F&B
– Gyms and fitness studios
– Performing arts & Education<\/td>		50%<\/td>10%<\/td>60%<\/td>10%<\/td><\/tr>
Significantly affected sectors
– Retail
– Cinemas
– Museums, art galleries, historical sites
– Family entertainment
-Affected personal care services
– Tourism<\/td>		30%<\/td>10%<\/td>40%<\/td>10%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

^ Includes qualifying licensed hotels, licensed travel agents, gated tourist attractions, cruise operators, regional ferry operators and MICE organisers. They received Tier 1 JSS support at 30% from 1 April \u2013 30 June 2021, and 10% from 1 \u2013 21 July 2021.
# Affected personal care services received 30% JSS support from 16 May to 20 June 2021, and 10% from 21 June to 30 June. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: Here\u2019s What You Need To Know About The Jobs Support Scheme (JSS)<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2 Rental Relief For Commercial Properties (Under the Rental Support Scheme)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An additional 4 weeks of rental relief will be provided to qualifying tenants on government-owned commercial properties, and an additional 2 weeks rental relief cash payouts for qualifying tenant-occupiers and owner-occupiers of privately-owned commercial properties under the Rental Support Scheme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is meant to offset rent for the full duration of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) for government-owned commercial properties, and half the duration for privately-owned commercial properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In their announcement, the government also encouraged landlords to provide rental support to affected businesses during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert). It goes on to say that they are looking to require landlords to share some rental obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: Rental Relief For Affected SMEs: How Much Do Landlords Need To Rebate Their Tenants?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3 Enhanced COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Besides the \u201caffected businesses\u201d taxi and private hire car drivers will also see significantly reduced demand for travel during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government will enhance the CDRF from 22 July to end-September 2021. Currently, the CDRF already provides drivers with $10\/vehicle\/day for 60 days from July 2021, and $5\/vehicle\/day for the next 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government will enhance this to provide an additional $10\/vehicle\/day from 22 July to 31 August 2021, and an additional $5\/vehicle\/day in September 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read Also: Complete Guide To COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund (CDRF): How Much Will Taxi And Private Hire Car Drivers Receive In 2021<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4 New Market and Hawker Centre Relief Fund<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On 16 July, the government announced that subsidies and rental waivers for table-cleaning and centralised dishwashing services, as well as for stallholders in hawker centres and markets managed by the NEA or NEA-appointed vendors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new Market and Hawker Centre Relief Fund will replace this scheme. All individual stallholders of cooked food and market stalls in centres managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators will receive a one-off cash assistance of $500 per stallholder. More details will be provided in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5 Enhanced COVID-19 Recovery Grant-Temporary (CRG-T)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On top of the CRG scheme, the government introduced the CRG-T on 28 May 2021 to provide a one-off $500 payout for affected self-employed persons (and $700 to affected workers). On 18 June 2021, the government announced a second tranche of one-off payouts under the CRG-T until 30 July 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, the latest enhancement to the CRG-T extends this deadline from 30 July to 31 August 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that there are certain restrictions for these separate CRG-T payouts. One main one is that you cannot be receiving both CRG and CRG-T payouts concurrently. However, you can receive up to 5 CRG and CRG-T payouts if you apply for them on months that do not overlap. Other restrictions include that you cannot also be receiving concurrent support from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n